Online Skin Doctor in 2026. What Can Be Diagnosed From a Photo, What Needs to Be Seen, and How to Get It Right
Many skin problems can be assessed well by video with good photos, which makes an online skin consultation one of the most useful things a virtual GP does. Acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis flares, fungal infections, cold sores, hives and most common rashes can usually be diagnosed and treated remotely, with any prescription subject to clinical assessment and pharmacy timing. Changing moles are different. A Cochrane review of 22 studies found that photo-based teledermatology correctly flagged about 95% of skin cancers, with fewer than 7% missed, and concluded that it works well for deciding which lesions need to be seen, but that evidence for accurate diagnosis from photos alone is limited. Adding magnified dermoscopic images improves accuracy. So the safe model is simple. Rashes and long-term skin conditions are managed by video, while any new or changing mole, a sore that will not heal or a lump is examined in person with dermoscopy, and removed with laboratory analysis where needed. At The Wellness skin care is led by a GP with a Master’s degree in dermatology. Video consultations are from £150, subject to availability. Enquire for dermoscopy, lesion removal, histology and any separate fees before booking. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 9 October 2026.
Send your skin concern to a doctor on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
Key facts about online skin consultations
Most rashes, acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can be assessed and treated by video.
Photo teledermatology correctly flags about 95% of skin cancers but is better for deciding who needs to be seen than for final diagnosis.
Any new or changing mole should be examined in person with dermoscopy.
Good photos in daylight, close up and from further away, make a remote assessment far more reliable.
A rash with fever, feeling very unwell, or a rash that does not fade under a glass needs urgent care.
Which skin problems can be treated online
Acne and rosacea, including starting and adjusting prescription treatment and reviewing progress every few weeks.
Eczema and dermatitis, including flares, infected eczema and building a long-term plan with the right strength of treatment.
Psoriasis, when the pattern is familiar and you need a flare treated or a plan reviewed.
Fungal infections of the skin, groin and feet, cold sores, impetigo, insect bite reactions, hives and many common rashes.
Follow-up of a condition already diagnosed, which is often more convenient by video than travelling to a clinic.
Which skin problems need to be seen in person
A new mole in an adult, or a mole that is changing in size, shape or colour, bleeding or itching. The ABCDE signs, asymmetry, irregular border, more than one colour, diameter over about 6mm and evolution, are a guide, and the ugly duckling sign, a mole that looks different from all your others, matters just as much.
A spot or sore that has not healed within about 4 weeks, which can be a sign of a basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.
A lump in or under the skin, a rash that is spreading quickly, or widespread blistering.
These are examined with a dermatoscope, a magnifying instrument that shows the structure beneath the skin surface, and removed with histology where needed.
Ask whether you need to be seen on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
How accurate is diagnosis from a photo
The Cochrane review, covering 22 studies, found that teledermatology using photographs identified about 95% of malignant lesions and missed fewer than 7%. Specificity, the ability to correctly reassure about harmless lesions, varied widely, so remote assessment tends to recommend more examinations and removals than necessary.
The authors concluded that teledermatology is likely to be useful for helping doctors decide which lesions need specialist assessment, but that evidence for accurate diagnosis from photos alone is limited. That is why changing moles are examined in person, while rashes and long-term conditions are well suited to video.
How do you take a good skin photo
Use daylight, without flash, and turn off filters and beauty modes.
Take 2 or 3 photos, one close up and in focus, one from further away to show where it is on the body, and one at an angle if it is raised.
Put a ruler or a coin beside a mole or spot to show its size.
Photograph the same area again after a few days if the problem is changing, so progress can be compared.
When do you need help urgently
Call 999 for a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed against it, particularly with fever or feeling very unwell, or for swelling of the lips, tongue or throat with difficulty breathing.
Seek same-day care for a rapidly spreading red, hot and painful area of skin, which may be cellulitis, a painful blistering rash near the eye, or widespread peeling or blistering.
What does an online skin consultation cost in London
Consultant dermatology first appointments in central London commonly cost several hundred pounds before any procedure, and membership practices charge annual retainers running into thousands.
Confirm the total fee, inclusions and any separate prescription or pharmacy charges before booking. Prescriptions depend on clinical assessment.
Signature Membership: enquire for the current fee, eligibility and services included.
Skin lesion removal and histology: enquire for the current fees and inclusions.
Extended consultation for complex or long-standing skin conditions: enquire for the current fee.
In-person skin examination with dermoscopy: enquire for the current fee.
In-person consultation: fees confirmed before booking.
Video skin consultation from £150; availability and inclusions confirmed before booking.
Confirm appointment availability and location before booking.
Why patients choose The Wellness for skin care
Because skin care is led by a GP with a Master’s degree in dermatology.
Because the safe things are done online and the important things are seen in person, with dermoscopy.
Because a lesion that needs removing can be removed with laboratory analysis, rather than referred on.
Follow-up is based on clinical need; confirm any separate follow-up fees before booking.
Video appointment availability is confirmed before booking.
Related reading
Skin cancer and mole checks covers melanoma and dermoscopy in detail, acne, rosacea and eczema covers long-term skin conditions, mole removal in London covers removal and histology, and online doctor and video GP consultations covers everything else that can be done by video.
Book an online skin consultation on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
Can a doctor diagnose a rash from a photo
Often, yes. Most common rashes, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections can be diagnosed and treated by video with good photos. The doctor will tell you if an in-person examination is needed.
Can a mole be checked online
A photo can help decide how urgently a mole needs to be seen, but a new or changing mole should be examined in person with dermoscopy. Photo teledermatology identifies about 95% of skin cancers but is less reliable for confirming that a mole is harmless.
How do I take a photo of a skin problem for a doctor
Use daylight without flash or filters, take a close-up and a wider photo, and place a ruler or coin beside a mole or spot to show its size.
Can an online doctor prescribe skin treatment
Yes. After a video consultation a doctor can issue a prescription for creams, ointments or tablets where appropriate, sent to a pharmacy near you.
When should a skin problem be seen urgently
Call 999 for a rash that does not fade under a glass, especially with fever, or for swelling of the lips or throat with difficulty breathing. Seek same-day care for a hot, painful, spreading red area or widespread blistering.
How much does an online skin consultation cost
At The Wellness video skin consultations are from £150. Enquire for in-person, dermoscopy, lesion removal and histology fees; confirm availability and inclusions before booking.
The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment, and removed lesions are analysed by accredited laboratories. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
References
Can a doctor diagnose a skin rash by video?
Yes, for most common rashes. Eczema, acne, rosacea, fungal infections, hives, cold sores, impetigo and shingles can usually be assessed by video, and a doctor can prescribe where the diagnosis is clear. A 2026 systematic review of 155 studies in Frontiers in Medicine found remote assessment agreed with in-person diagnosis 76% of the time across all skin conditions.
What does the research say about image quality?
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 44 studies in BMJ Open found agreement between teledermatology and in-person diagnosis averaged 75.9% when the people taking the images had been trained, against 62.1% when they had not. In practice, a clear photo in good light changes how reliable a remote assessment is. For skin cancer, the Frontiers review found agreement rose from 67% to 80% when dermoscopy was used, which is why a changing mole should be examined in person.
How should I prepare for a video skin consultation?
- Use natural daylight from a window rather than overhead lighting.
- Clean the camera lens and, if you can, remove make-up or creams from the area.
- Show the whole area first, then hold the camera closer for detail.
- Include a coin or ruler in a photo to show the size of a spot or patch.
- Note when it started, any itch, pain or fever, new medicines, and what you have already tried.
Show a doctor your rash by video on WhatsApp
More questions about video skin consultations
Can a doctor diagnose shingles by video?
Usually, yes, because shingles has a typical pattern of blisters on one side of the body. The NHS advises seeing a pharmacist or doctor within 3 days of the rash appearing, because treatment can speed up recovery and help avoid longer-lasting problems.
Can a doctor see my child's rash by video?
Often, yes, with a parent present. A rash that does not fade when pressed under a glass, or a child who is very unwell, needs emergency care.
Can I send a photo instead of having a video call?
A photo helps, but the doctor still needs to talk to you to take a history and check for warning signs. Many patients send a photo before the consultation.
What if the doctor needs to examine me after the video call?
The doctor will explain why and arrange an in-person assessment, so you know what to expect.
Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last updated 19 October 2026.
Sources: Frontiers in Medicine, Diagnostic accuracy of teledermatology for skin diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2026. BMJ Open, Systematic review and meta-analysis of teledermatology and face-to-face diagnostic agreement, 2023. NHS, Shingles.
Dermatology
Consultant dermatology for mole checks, skin conditions and lesion removal.
View DermatologyRelated Services
Request a consultation or test with The Wellness